STAN: THE PACE AT THE STATE HOUSE IS STARTING TO PICK UP. DONNA: THERE WERE COMPETING NEWS CONFERENCES, BILL HEARINGS AND RALLIES ON A VARIETY OF ISSUES BEING HEARD TODAY. AS ALWAYS -- 11 NEWS REPORTER DAVID COLLINS IS KEEPING TRACK OF IT ALL. HE JOINS US FROM ANNAPOLIS. DAVID: THERE ARE A COUPLE OF SIGNS THE SESSION IS PICKING UP. THE SESSIONS THEMSELVES LASTED LONGER, AND THE CROWDS ARE BIGGER AND COMMITTEE HEARINGS. WHAT MORE DO WE NEED TO SAY NO TO THIS -- THIS TURNED INTO A NO FRACKING ZONE. A BILL TO BAN FRACKING AND ONE THAT WITHIN A YEAR MORATORIUM HAD A SENATE COMMITTEE MIRRORING -- HEARING. THE MEASURE LISTS THE STATE MANDATE TO IMPOSE A STORM WATER MANAGEMENT FEE. THE 10 JURISDICTIONS WOULD HAVE TO BE EPA GOALS TO CURB POLLUTION RUNOFF THAT ENDS UP IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY. MEANWHILE, THERE WAS SPIRITED DEBATE IN A HOUSE COMMITTEE OVER KIDS MENUS AT RESTAURANTS. LET ME BE CLEAR. THIS IS NOT A BAND --BAN. BALTIMORE CITY DELEGATE IS PUSHING LEGISLATION TO REPLACE SUGARY DRINKS IN KIDS MEALS WITH A CHOICE OF 100% JUICE, LOW-FAT MILK, OR WATER. THE HOUSTON GOT A BILL TO CREATE A TASK FORCE TO STUDY ISSUES RELATED TO SELF DRIVING VEHICLES. THEY ALSO DISCUSSED RAISING A SPEED LIMIT. THE SENATE DELAYED ACTION ON LEGISLATION TO TRANSFER OPERATING THE CITY JAIL COMPLEX. THE FEDERAL CORRUPTION -- CORRUPTION PROBE AND SPENT ANOTHER BILL CALLING FOR POLYGRAPH TESTS FOR CORRECTIONS OFFICERS. THE MEASURE PROHIBITING DRIVERS FROM HATING THINGS ON THEIR REARVIEW MIRROR WAS GIVEN PRELIMINARY APPROVAL. IT WILL BE CONSIDERED A SECONDARY OFFENSE. TOMORROW'S IS JUST AS BUSY HUNTING SOME TO SAY IT IS ABOUT TIME.

HOSPITAL AND THE OTHER WAS NOT INJURED. THE BALTIMORE LANDLORD ACCUSED OF TAKING OVER THE HOMES OF DEAD PEOPLE, AND THEN RENTING THE RUNDOWN AND ALMOST UNINHABITABLE ROOMS TO TENANTS, IS PREPARING TO GO TO JAIL. DONNA: LAST NIGHT WE PRESENTED OUR INVESTIGATION OF LANDLORD LARRY RAFFERTY, AND TODAY HE FACED A JUDGE. 11 NEWS I-TEAM REPORTER BARRY SIMMS IS LIVE DOWNTOWN WITH THE FOLLOW UP TODAY. BARRY IT WAS SHOCKING TO SEE THE CONDITIONS PEOPLE WERE LIVING IN. SOME PEOPLE TELL US THEY HAD NO PLACE TO GO IN THE CITY TOLD THEM THEY HAD TO GET OUT. OTHERS SAY THEY LOST EVERYTHING. THE JUDGE SENTENCED HIM TO 30 DAYS UNTIL. -- IN JAIL. HE WILL SPEND WEEKENDS IN JAIL. THE JUDGE CALLED LARRY RAFFERTY'S ACTIONS DANGEROUS, THREATENING THE LIFE AND HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE WHO RENTED ROOMS FROM HIM. I DIDN'T ENFORCE ANYBODY LIVING ANY PLACE I DIDN'T MEAN TO HAVE -- HURT ANYBODY. I DON'T THINK HE IS MY WORST ENEMY, THAT HE NEEDS TO BE TAUGHT A LESSON. LET HIM KNOW THAT YOU CAN'T DO PEOPLE LIKE THAT. RAFFERTY ACCEPTED A DEAL FROM THE CITY INVOLVING HOUSES. THE CITY HAS NO RECORD SHOWING HE OWNED THEM. IN FACT, THE OWNERS OF PROPERTIES ARE DEAD. RAFFERTY PLED GUILTY TO TWO CHARGES OF FAILING TO RETAIN PERMITS. AS THE TEAM AS REPORTED, CITY HOUSING INSPECTORS SENT OUT A TOTAL OF EIGHT HOUSES ASSOCIATED WITH RAFFERTY THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO BE BEGINS. GIVING TENANTS JUST TO OUR -- TWO HOURS TO GET OUT. HE SAYS HE PURCHASED MANY IN A TAX SALE. HE HAS NOT PRESENTED RECORDS BACKING THAT UP. HE COLLECTED $450-$500 EVERY MONTH IN RENT. HE TRIED TO MAKE IT SEEM LIKE HE WAS DOING SOMETHING, BUT HE WASN'T. HIS ATTORNEY ARGUED HIS CLIENT DID NOT SET OUT TO BECOME A SLUMLORD. THE PROPERTIES WERE IN TERRIBLE SHAPE AND HE WANTS TO MAKE THEM RIGHT. HE WANTED PROBATION, WORRYING ANYTHING ELSE COULD JEOPARDIZE HIS JOB AS A VOCATIONAL TEACHER FOR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN IN PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY. THE JUDGE RULED HE HAD TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF EACH TENANT, ACTING AT HE WAS HELPING THEM BUT PADDING HIS POCKETS. FOR THE NEXT SEVEN WEEKENDS, HE MUST SERVE TIME IN JAIL. I WILL HAVE TO. I WILL REPORT FRIDAY INTO IT I HAVE TO DO. NEXT REFEREE MUST ALSO PAY $1000 FINE AND COMPLETE 160 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE. HE MAY ALSO HAVE TO PAY SOME TENETS RESTITUTION.

PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN. MEANWHILE, SENATOR BARBARA MIKULSKI'S ANNOUNCEMENT NOT TO RUN FOR RE-ELECTION IN 2016 HAS A LOT OF POLITICIANS, PAST AND CURRENTLY SERVING, TALKING ABOUT A POTENTIAL SENATE CAMPAIGN. AND ALREADY ONE "BIG NAME" HAS TAKEN HIS NAME OUT OF CONSIDERATION. 11 NEWS DEBORAH WEINER JOINS US IN THE STUDIO WITH THE STORY. DEBORAH. DEBRA: HERE IS WHAT WE LEARNED. O'MALLEY, NOT INTERESTED. MAYOR STEPHANIE RAWLINGS-BLAKE, NOT INTERESTED. AT THIS STAGE, THIS IS A VERY FLUID SITUATION. IT IS ABOUT ELECTABILITY AND FUNDRAISING ABILITY. THANK YOU EVERYBODY. NEXT SENATOR BARBARA MIKULSKI COULD HAVE ENDED HER RETIREMENT NEWS CONFERENCE WITH, LET THE GAMES BEGIN. AS THE JOCKEYING TO REPLACE OR COMMENCES IN EARNEST. WE DON'T GET THIS KIND OF OPENING OFTEN. IT TENDS TO HAVE A DOMINO EFFECT AND THERE WILL BE MANY PEOPLE WHO WILL CONSIDER IT. PARTICULARLY THE INCUMBENT MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. TAKE FOR EXAMPLE, CONGRESSMAN JOHN SARBANES WHOSE FATHER WAS A SENATOR. HE IS GIVING IT SERIOUS CONSIDERATION. CONGRESSMAN ELIJAH CUMMINGS APPEARS TO BE THINKING IN THE SAME VEIN. YOU CAN'T BE IN POLITICS AS LONG AS I HAVE AND NOT BE INTERESTED IN A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME LITTLE OPPORTUNITY. BUT COMING ACKNOWLEDGES THAT DEEP DEMOCRATIC BENCH IN MARYLAND, INCLUDING CHRIS VAN HOLLEN WHO RAN A POWERFUL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN. CUMMINGS SAYS, DO NOT DISCOUNT THE REPUBLICANS. WE JUST SAW WHAT HAPPENED WITH REGARD TO GOVERNOR HOGAN WINNING IN A BLUE STATE. I THINK THEY FEEL EMPOWERED. IT WILL MEAN ANYBODY. THERE IS SPECULATION ABOUT THE EARLY RUNNING, BABAR KINDLE. BUT IT IS BELIEVED THAT BOB, LIKE HIS NEMESIS MARTIN, HAS DESIGNS EYES ON A BIGGER POLITICAL PRICE. I JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH FORMER GOVERNOR EHRLICH, HE DOESN'T WANT TO COMMENT BUT HE SAYS THE PHONE HAS BEEN RINGING OFF THE HOOK WITH PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE HIM TO RUN. WHEN IT COMES TO THIS BIG RACE,

TAKING AIM AT CHILDHOOD OBESITY. LEGISLATION UNDER CONSIDERATION. THE PROPOSAL WOULD REQUIRE RESTAURANTS TO OFFER ONLY HEALTHY BEVERAGES ON KIDS MENUS. DAVID COLLINS IS TRACKING THE BILL AND HE JOINS US FROM THE STATEHOUSE. DAVID: BILL SUPPORTERS BELIEVE IT ADDRESSES A SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEM. OPPONENTS SEE IT AS GOVERNMENT OVERREACH. NO ROOM FOR SUGARY DRINK ON THESE KIDS MENUS. IT IS A TREND AIMED AT COMBATING CHILDHOOD OBESITY AND TYPE TWO DIABETES. ONLY A HANDFUL OF RESTAURANTS HAVE TAKEN THE STEP HERE AT YOUR FIRST OPTION WILL BE THE LOW-FAT 100% JUICE OR WATER. RIGHT NOW THE DEFAULT IS A SODA. IF YOU WANT A BOTTLED WATER, YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. VIDEO DEAL MANDATES THAT A RESTAURANT REPLACES SUGAR READINGS WITH HEALTHY CHOICES. SUPPORTERS WANT TO MAKE. IS NOT A BAND. SUGARY DRINKS LIKE LEMONADE AND SODA CAN STILL BE OFFERED BUT SEPARATELY AT THE MARKET PRICE. THE PARENTS PLAY A LARGE ROLE. WE WANT TO GIVE THEM A CHOICE, SO THEY CAN CHOOSE WHAT IT IS THEY WANT THEIR CHILDREN TO HAVE. ACCORDING TO THE CDC, 32% OF CHILDREN IN MARYLAND BETWEEN 2-5 ARE OVERWEIGHT OR OBESE. A STUDY BY THE CENTER FOR FOOD POLICY AND OBESITY FIND THAT DRINKING JUST ONE SUGARY DRINK A DAY INCREASES THE CHILD'S ODDS OF BECOMING OBESE BY 60%. THE SCIENTISTS SOLID THAT SUGARY DRINKS LIKE SODA, FRUIT PUNCH, LEMONADE, ARE THE MAIN CONTRIBUTOR TO THE EPIDEMIC OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY AND TYPE TWO DIABETES. THE BILL'S MEETING STIFF OPPOSITION BY TRADE GROUPS. A NEW GOVERNMENT ON MANDATE ON SMALL BUSINESS IS THE WRONG POLICY ACCORDING TO THEM. THEY WON A WHOLE HOST OF OTHER -- OPTIONS FOR PARENTS. OUR CUSTOMERS SAY THEY WANT CHOICES, NOT GOVERNMENT MANDATES. BY SETTING PEOPLE WANT TO DO WHITE -- RIGHT, SOMETIMES THEY NEED A PUSH IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. OTHER OPPONENTS LIKE THE MARYLAND RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION ONE OF INCREASED COST. THEY SHAPE -- SAY PARENTS SHOULD MAKE THESE DECISIONS NOT THE

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